Alberta Has Reached Its PNP Allocation for 2025

At the start of the year, Alberta had 4,875 nomination spaces to work with. Partway through 2025, the federal government added 1,728 extra spots, bringing the total to 6,603. Those additional spots have now all been used. AAIP says the next update on nomination availability will come in early 2026, when things are expected to move again. 

We’ll look at what this means for applicants already waiting in the pool and for those thinking about applying. We’ll also cover which AAIP streams used the most nominations, what’s still happening behind the scenes, and why 2026 could be a very different (and more promising) year for Alberta PNP hopefuls.

Alberta’s 2025 PNP Key Details 

• Total nominations available: 6,603

• Nominations issued: 6,741 (includes a small federal overage)

• Spots remaining: 0

• Applications still being processed: 1,479

• Total candidates in the AAIP EOI pool: 45,622 

Invitations and EOIs in 2025 

Even with a limited number of spots, AAIP held many draws in 2025 and invited workers from a wide range of sectors, including health care, construction, agriculture, aviation, tourism, technology, and rural communities. These draws targeted provincial job market needs rather than following a fixed schedule. 

As of the latest update, there are still 45,622 candidates in the AAIP Expression of Interest (EOI) pool. The good news for those who have already applied for a provincial nomination is that their applications are still being processed, even though no new nominations are being issued in 2025. Nomination rounds are expected to resume in 2026, once Alberta receives its new allocation. 

Which Stream Had the Most Nominations? 

All AAIP streams have now exhausted their 2025 allocations, including: 

• Alberta Opportunity Stream: 3,712 nominations issued 

• Rural Renewal Stream: 1,040 nominations issued 

• Tourism and Hospitality Stream: 294 nominations issued  

• Dedicated Health Care Pathways: 563 nominations issued 

• Alberta Express Entry Stream: 1,086 nominations issued across pathways such as Accelerated Tech, Priority Sectors, and Law Enforcement 

• Entrepreneur Streams: 23 nominations issued 

In 2025, the Alberta Opportunity Stream alone made up more than half of all nominations. This is largely because it’s open to many workers already living and working in Alberta and is used to meet growing labour needs across the province. The Rural Renewal Stream had the second-highest number of nominations, with 1,040 issued, showing Alberta’s focus on supporting smaller communities and regional employers. 

Looking Ahead to 2026 

The good news is that 2026 looks much more promising for Alberta nominees. Canada’s new immigration levels plan shows that the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is growing again after this year’s slowdown. With higher PNP targets, Alberta is also expected to benefit from this increase. The province’s nomination allocation is projected to increase to 8,266 spots in 2026, up from 2025’s 6,603. And, to rise slightly again to 8,358 nominations in both 2027 and 2028. 

Starting January 1, 2026, Alberta will also make changes to the Rural Renewal Stream. Rural communities will have limits on endorsements, and eligibility will depend more on job skill level (TEER) and where the applicant lives. These updates are meant to better manage nominations and focus on jobs rural Alberta needs most. 

With more nomination spots coming in 2026 and beyond, this is a good time to get ready. If Alberta is your permanent residence goal, make sure your job offer, work experience, and documents are in order, and keep a close eye on program updates in early 2026.  

Want to stay on top of what happens next? Join the Moving2Canada community to get clear updates on Provincial Nominee Programs across Canada as soon as new information is released.